1844. I've never understood why something that is such good news is viewed as such bad news. God wants to make sure that the right people get into heaven so that the universe can be eternally secure, free from the possibility of people getting hurt again by others. He wants to cleanse us from our preoccupation with self-again, eliminating our habit of causing pain to Him and to others.

About a year ago, I had the unique privilege of listening to N.T. Wright present a day's worth of lectures at Gordon-Conwell College in Massachusetts. Wright is one of the most influential and respected New Testament scholars within Christianity today, and his presentations did not let me down.